Combination sitting and sleeping piece



Nov. 15, 1966 J. a. SEVCIK I COMBINATION SITTING AND SLEEPING PIECE Filed Oct. 7, 1965 United States Patent 3 284,813 COMBINATION SITTING AND SLEEPING PIECE John G. Sevcik, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to Burton-Dixie Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 493,717 2 Claims. (Cl. -17) The present invention relates to a convertible article of furniture and more particularly to an improved combination sitting and sleeping piece which is easily installed and readily converted from a sitting piece, such as a lounge, davenport, sofa or studio couch, into a bed.

In the Urban A. Weidner Patent No. 2,972,754 is dis closed a combination sitting and sleeping piece having a frame which is adapted to be secured to the floor and a slidable frame movable relative to the stationary frame to convert from the sitting piece'to the sleeping piece. The movable frame cannot be removed from the stationary frame so that once the article is placed in position, special tools are required which extend down through the movable pull-out section so that the base can be permanently fastened to the floor. The present invention allows the base section and top section of the convertible assembly to be separated for ease of mobility and installation.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel combination bed-lounge or sitting and sleeping piece particularly adapted for use where only limited space is available and where the stationary frame section or base may be anchored or bolted to the floor and/or wall. A separate movable frame section is assembled to the stationary frame section and movable between retracted and advanced positions. When the movable frame is retracted for use as a sitting piece or lounge, the seat thereof inclines rearwardly and downwardly for optimum sitting comfort, and when the movable frame section is advanced or extended to form a bed, the frame and its mattress are supported in a horizontal plane. I

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel convertible sitting and sleeping article of furniture having a stationary frame anchored to the floor and/ or wall, a cabinet aflixed to or supported from the wall and provided with a cushion forming a backrest when the article is used as a lounge, and a separate movable frame which is assembled within the stationary frame after anchoring the latter and slidably mounted therein as to be movable from a position beneath the cabinet when the article is used as a lounge to a position withdrawn from beneath the cabinet when used as a bed. The movable frame is provided with front supporting legs and guide means for controlling the path of movement whereby the forward end of the movable frame is elevated when being extended to form a bed or when being retracted to prevent the legs from engaging the floor or carpet except when fully extended.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision of inclined tracks at the opposite ends of the stationary frame section and the movable section is provided with rollers carried in the tracks. The tracks are rearwardly and downwardly inclined for a substantial portion of their length and terminate at the forward ends in a forwardly and downwardly inclined short length abutting the front of the stationary frame section. Adjacent the short forwardly and downwardly inclined portion in each rearwardly and downwardly inclined track is formed an opening in the top of the track through which the rollers on the movable frame can be inserted or lifted to assemble or separate the movable and stationary frame sections.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly "ice and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a combination sitting and sleeping piece embodying the novel improved construction, the piece shown converted to a lounge or sitting piece.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of a corner of the frame assembly for the combination sitting and sleeping piece with the movable frame fully extended or withdrawn from the stationary frame; the combination mattress and seat cushion removed.

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the frame assembly of FIG. 2, but with the movable frame retracted.

FIG. 4 is another view in end elevation of the frame assembly with the movable frame withdrawn or extended to sleeping position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4, part in side elevation and part in vertical cross section, showing the manner in which the movable frame section is mounted and withdrawn from an inclined to a horizontal position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the present assembly as a sitting piece or lounge 10 but which is readily convertible to a bed when the movable frame 11 is extended or withdrawn from the stationary frame 12 to the position shown in FIG. 4. This assembly is provided with a fixed and upholstered backrest 13, the backrest shown as rearwardly inclined and is pivotally connected to a built-in cabinet or book shelf 14 attached to the wall and providing a closure for the cabinet.

The stationary frame or base 12 is rigidly affixed to the floor and/ or wall so that it remains stationary while the movable frame 11 is withdrawn or extended for sleeping (FIG. 4) and returned to the position of FIGS. 1 and 3 when the bed is not in use. A removable seat cushion 15 provides a mattress covering the full width and length of the movable frame 11 to provide a comfortable bed. A skirt 15 is secured to the lower edge of the cushion around the front and ends to conceal the movable and stationary frames when the assembly is utilized as a lounge.

The stationary frame 12 includes a pair of end frames, each consisting of spaced uprights 16 and 17 and a connecting member 18 resting on the floor and joining the lower ends of the uprights. The members 16, 17 and 18 are preferably formed of angle iron and suitably rein forced by brace members 19. The end frames are connected by longitudinally extending bars or rails 21 and 22 at the front and rear of the frame 12. Mounted on each end frame is a track 23 rigidly anchored at its rear or lower end 24 to upright 17 and adjacent its front or elevated end 25 to the upright 16. The upright 16 also has a resilient bumper 26 mounted thereon and aligned with the open end 25 of the track.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the track 23 is inclined upwardly and forwardly and at its forward end 25 is provided with a short downwardly and forwardly inclined portion 27 providing a well into which a roller 28 drops when the movable frame 11 is withdrawn to its fully extended position (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5). By inclining the track 23 in the manner shown, the movable frame and its cushion-mattress 15 are inclined rearwardly and downwardly when retracted to form a lounge or sitting piece, and when the movable frame is fully withdrawn from the stationary frame 12 to provide a bed, the spaced rollers 28 and frame 11 are disposed in a horizontal plane for optimum sleeping comfort.

To facilitate withdrawal and return of the movable frame 11, the uprights 16 at each end of the stationary frame 12 are provided with guide rollers 29 against which the opposite ends of the movable frame ride and are held aligned and against end sway in the stationary frame.

Each track, adjacent the short forwardly and downwardly inclined portion 27, is provided with a cut-out at 31 in the top surface 32 of the track 23 and extending partially into the side 33 of the track. These cut-outs 31 are provided to allow the rollers 28 on the movable frame 11 to be inserted into or lifted out of the track 23 so that the movable frame 11 is capable of separation from the stationary frame 12.

The movable frame 11 includes a continuous cushion mattress supporting section 34 having spaced longitudinally extending side bars or rails 35, connecting end bars or rails 36, cushion-mattress supporting springs (not shown) extending across the section 34, and end sup porting frame sections 37. Spaced upstanding abutments 38 for the rear of the cushion-mattress 15 assures withdrawal of the latter with the frame 11. The end frame sections 37 are positioned inwardly of the end bars 35 and each includes spaced uprights 39 and 41 and a bottom bar 42 rigidly connected and suitably reinforced by brace members 43, and a hollow leg 44 provided with an enlarged floor engaging base 45 of natural or compounded synthetic rubber. To the cross bar or rail 42 are secured the spaced threaded studs 46 each carrying a roller 28 and a spacer 47, each stud being anchored to a cross bar 42 by a nut 48. Transverse brace members 49 bridge the longitudinal side bars 35 at spaced intervals to provide a rigid assembly. The movable frame, like the stationary frame, is preferably formed of angle members.

When the present assembly is to be installed, the base or stationary frame 12 can be shipped separate from the pull-section or movable frame 11 which lends itself to easier and less costly handling both in shipment by the carrier and by delivery into the building. The base section 12 is brought into the room first and anchored to the floor by suitable fastening or anchoring means (not shown). Access to the floor rails 18 is unhindered by the movable frame 11 and assembly to the fioor is therefore faster and easier without the necessity of special tools. After the frame 12 is fastened to the floor, the rollers 28 of the movable frame 11 can be lowered into the track 23 through the opening 31 as the frame 11 is inserted into the frame 12; the rear rollers 28 adjacent the uprights 41 entering the track 23 first followed by the front rollers 28. Assembly of the piece is much faster and easier than the previous factory assembled unit. Likewise, the movable frame 11 may easily be completely removed from the stationary frame 12, if required.

By means of the inclined track 23 at each end of the stationary frame 12, the legs 44 engage the floor or carpet only when the movable frame 11 is fully extended or withdrawn (FIG. 4) or fully retracted (FIG. 3). At other times, the inclination of the tracks 23 and the rollers 28 riding therein maintain the forward or outer portion of the movable frame 11 elevated with the leg 44 out of contact with the floor or carpet, thus reducing or eliminating wear incident to continuous use of this piece of furniture. As the frame 12 is anchored to the floor and/ or wall, the effort necessary to withdraw the movable frame 11 for sleeping or return for sitting purposes is substantially reduced.

The movable frame 11 in retracted position and the cushion-mattress 15 are inclined rearwardly and downwardly (FIG. 3), whereas when withdrawn, the frame cushion-mattress are withdrawn from beneath the cabinet 14 and the backrest 13 and are horizontally disposed to provide optimum comfort in either position. In the extended or sleeping position of the movable frame 11, each forward roller 28 seats in the downwardly inclined portion 27 of each track 23 and abutting the resilient bumper 26, and is retained therein in latched position. In this extended position the spaced rollers 28 are horizontally aligned, as seen in FIG. 4, whereby the movable frame 11 is also positioned in a horizontal plane. To release the movable frame for its return from the position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 3, the outer end of the movable frame must be raised to elevate the forward rollers 28 out of engagement before the frame may be returned to sitting position. The rollers 29 on the stationary frame 12 help to maintain alignment of the movable and stationary frames and facilitate their operation.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a combination bed and sitting piece capable of being converted from a lounge to a bed and back to a lounge, a stationary frame and a separate frame movably and slidably mounted upon said stationary frame and capable of providing a rearwardly inclined support for a seat when converted to a lounge and a substantially horizontal support for a mattress when converted to a bed, said stationary frame provided with spaced end frames and a substantially C-shaped inwardly opening track joined at its ends to and bridging each end frame, each track being inclined rearwardly and downwardly through the greater portion of its length and inclined downwardly and outwardly adjacent its forward end to provide a well closed at its forward end, said movable frame at its opposite ends having a front leg and rearwardly spaced supporting rollers received in and movable in said adjacent track when the movable frame is extended or retracted, said rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion of the track having an opening in the top thereof adjacent to but spaced rearwardly from the well for insertion or removal of the spaced rollers, a guide roller carried on one of the frames and having contact with the other frame to align and guide the movable frame between its extended and retracted positions, said legs being elevated as the movable frame is being moved to either of its positions of use and contacting the floor when the forward supporting rollers move into said walls at the fully extended position of the movable frame and the spaced supporting rollers at each end are disposed in substantially horizontal alignment, one of said rollers being positioned forwardly of the opening and in the well of its track and the other roller rearwardly of said opening when the movable frame is fully extended upon the stationary frame to provide a bed, in which position said rollers are retained in the track against removal, and when said movable frame is withdrawn to a position intermediate its fully extended position to provide a bed and its retracted position with the forward supporting roller aligned with the opening of its track the forward supporting roller is removable through the opening upon lifting the forward end of the movable frame, and when the movable frame is then further withdrawn to align the rear supporting roller with said opening, said rear supporting roller and the movable frame are bodily removed.

2. A combination bed and sitting piece as set forth in claim 1, in which said movable and stationary frames are separately assembled and, when the stationary frame is installed, the movable frame is inserted into the stationary frame by inserting the rear and then the forward of the spaced supporting rollers in the tracks through said openings therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,840,142 1/1932 Vanderhoof 312343 X 2,620,252 12/1952 Restivo 3l2341 X 2,972,754 2/1961 Weidner 5-17 3,027,570 4/1962 Kamp 5-17 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Examiner. 

1. IN A COMBINATION BED AND SITTING PIECE CAPABLE OF BEING CONVERTED FROM A LOUNGE TO A BED AND BACK TO A LOUNGE, A STATIONARY FRAME AND A SEPARATE FRAME MOVABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID STATIONARY FRAME AND CAPABLE OF PROVIDING A REARWARDLY INCLINED SUPPORT FOR A SEAT WHEN CONVERTED TO A LOUNGE AND A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SUPPORT FOR A MATTRESS WHEN CONVERTED TO A BED, SAID STATIONARY FRAME PROVIDED WITH SPACED END FRAMES AND A SUBSTANTIALLY C-SHAPED INWARDLY OPENING TRACK JOINED AT ITS ENDS TO AND BRIDGING EACH END FRAME, EACH TRACK BEING INCLINED REARWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE GREATER PORTION OF ITS LENGTH AND INCLINED DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY ADJACENT ITS FORWARD END TO PROVIDE A WALL CLOSED AT ITS FORWARD END, SAID MOVABLE FRAME AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS HAVING A FRONT LEG AND REARWARDLY SPACED SUPPORTING ROLLERS RECEIVED IN AND MOVABLE IN SAID ADJACENT TRACK WHEN THE MOVABLE FRAME IS EXTENDED OR RETRACTED, SAID REARWARDLY FROM THE WELL FOR INSERTION OR REMOVAL TRACK HAVING AN OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED REARWARDLY FROM THE WELL FOR INSERTION OR REMOVAL OF THE SPACED ROLLERS, A GUIDE ROLLER CARRIED ON ONE OF THE FRAMES AND HAVING CONTACT WITH THE OTHER FRAME TO ALIGN AND GUIDE THE MOVABLE FRAME BETWEEN ITS EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, SAID LEGS BEING ELEVATED AS THE MOVABLE FRAME IS BEING MOVED TO EITHER OF ITS POSITIONS OF USE AND CONTACTING THE FLOOR WHEN THE FORWARD SUPPORTING ROLLERS MOVE INTO SAID WALLS AT THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION OF THE MOVABLE FRAME AND THE SPACED SUPPORTING ROLLERS AT EACH END ARE DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT, ONE OF SAID ROLLERS BEING POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF THE OPENING AND IN THE WELL OF ITS TRACK AND THE OTHER ROLLER REARWARDLY OF SAID OPENING WHEN THE MOVABLE FRAME IS FULLY EXTENDED UPON THE STATIONARY FRAME TO PROVIDE A BED, IN WHICH POSITION SAID ROLLERS ARE RETAINED IN THE TRACK AGAINST REMOVAL, AND WHEN SAID MOVABLE FRAME IS WITHDRAWN TO A POSITION INTERMEDIATE ITS FULLY EXTENDED POSITION TO PROVIDE A BED AND ITS RETRACTED POSITION WITH THE FORWARD SUPPORTING ROLLER ALIGNED WITH THE OPENING OF ITS TRACK THE FORWARD SUPPORTING ROLLER IS REMOVABLE THROUGH THE OPENING UPON LIFTING THE FORWARD END OF THE MOVABLE FRAME, AND WHEN THE MOVABLE FRAME IS THEN FURTHER WITHDRAWN TO ALIGN THE REAR SUPPORTING ROLLER WITH SAID OPENING, SAID REAR SUPPORTING ROLLER AND THE MOVABLE FRAME ARE BODILY REMOVED. 